Godrej Sidhwa

Ervad Godrej Sidhwa was born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1925, and studied Avesta, Pahalvi, Persian & Pazend languages, plus Ancient Iranian literature at M.F. Cama Athornan Institute, Andheri, Mumbai, for 6 years. He got initiated into the Zoroastrian priesthood by going through the Navar and Maratab initiation ceremony from Iranshah Atash Behram, Udvada, India. His initiation as a priest accounts for the "Ervad" ('Reverend') title. ^[1]

Godrej has been the instructor of Zoroastrianism and Ancient Iranian History at the B.V.S. Parsi High School and Mama Parsi Secondary School, Karachi, for the last 45 years. He was appointed as the Honorary Lecturer in Zoroastrian Theology at colleges in Karachi for the Zoroastrian students. He was also appointed as Examiner in Zoroastrian Theology by the University of Karachi, Pakistan, for the Bachelor’s degree program. After the demise of Dasturji Dr. M. N. Dhalla he took up all the duties of the late Dasturji, in the religious as well as the social areas.

Ervad Sidhwa has lectured on Zoroastrian Theology in India, Pakistan, Iran, Canada, UK, US and UAE. He has also lectured on Zoroastrianism at University of California, Berkeley. On several occasions he has been invited by the Government of Pakistan to discuss the Human Rights and problems faced by religious minorities in Pakistan.

He is the Honorary Secretary of The Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund, Karachi Athornan Mandal, and Joint Honorary Secretary of Dr. Dhalla Memorial Institute since its inception in 1965. He is also a jury delegate of Karachi Parsi Matrimonial Court, Government of Sindh, Pakistan, since 1960.

References